Couples again the one to beat in Skins Game

The “King of the Skins” is up to his old tricks.

Fred Couples, a five-time Skins Game champion, got off to a fine start toward a sixth title Saturday, winning six skins to earn $175,000 at Trilogy Golf Club in La Quinta.

“He played beautiful,” Fred Funk said. “He’s driving the ball great and playing great. That’s why he’s the King of the Skins.”

John Daly won one hole, the first, for $25,000. Funk, the defending champion with $925,000 a year ago, and Skins Game rookie Stephen Ames were shut out over the first nine holes of the two-day, 18-hole event.

Couples, 47, has earned $3,515,000 in 12 previous Skins Game appearances.

He was pleased with his play, particularly his putting, on the way to six birdies and six skins on opening day this year.

“I’ve butchered a lot of holes [in the past] and had a lot of big skins,” he said. “It’s easier this way.”

Funk, who wore a pink skirt on the third hole last year after Annika Sorenstam outdrove him, had another wrinkle this time -- his caddie replaced Daly’s ball on the sixth green with a remote-controlled ball.

Funk, the other three players and the fans laughed as the ball lurched backward and forward on the green. Daly laughed too. Then he missed a 12-foot try for birdie.

The first six holes were worth $25,000 each; Nos. 7-12 $50,000 apiece; 13 through 17 worth $70,000 each. The final hole is a “Super Skin” for $200,000.

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Justin Rose shot a four-under-par 68 to take a two-stroke lead after three rounds of the Australian Masters at Melbourne.... Jeev Milkha Singh shot a three-under 69 to take a share of the lead at the Casio World Open at Kochi, Japan.